Despite the failure of the Nigeria senior national women’s football team, Super Falcons to record success in their two-match friendly tie against their Japanese counterpart last week, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Members have showered encomiums on the former African champions.
A hurriedly assembled Super Falcons team led by interim Head Coach Edwin Okon and two adhoc assistants took 25 players composed of local players to Japan to honor the invitation of the all expenses paid by the Japanese Football Association (JFA). They lost the first game 0-2 and second encounter was not different as the Nigerians lost again by 0-2 to crown a bad outing.
But two NFF Executive Board Members, High Chief Emeka Inyama and Alhaji Shehu Adamu who watched the matches in Japan have come out in defense of the coaching crew and the players, saying that the Super Falcons were not disgraced in the two games.
According to Inyama, the Super Falcons distinguished themselves in the Japan friendly by the great football artistry they displayed in the two matches although they lost by the same 0-2 margin. He said he was not disappointed by the performance of the Nigerian team.
Said he, “l must be honest with you, I am very much impressed by the high football sense our girls displayed in Japan especially the second match which the Super Falcons came out smoking. Although Nigeria lost, I am proud of the team”.
Inyama who is also the Chairman, NFF Media Sub-Committee disclosed that the Super Falcons need just a little fine-tuning to hit the ground running, adding that he has no doubting in his mind that Coach Okon has something to offer the team if given the need support to put together a formidable team for Nigeria.
Also Shehu who was in Japan commended the Super Falcons team and Coach Okon for their efforts, saying that the team put up great determination to excel although they did not achieve their aim
Meanwhile, Coach Okon who is also the Technical Adviser of Rivers State-owned Rivers Angels FC of Port Harcourt has hailed his players for giving their Japanese counterpart a good fight in the two matches.
“ I am proud of the young players we took to Japan. I went with 23 rookies and only two old faces like Osinachi OOhale and Onyinyechi Ohadugha. Others were from Super Falconets team and few untested legs from the local league. We did not parade any professional player like Japan did. It is noteworthy to observe that the young players showed good sign that they will become great in future if given the chance,” Okon said.
